Sunday, August 18: “Just This Time?”

Judges 16: 28: “Then Samson called to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.’”

One of the psalm readings for this day goes, “The Lord is gracious and merciful … slow to anger … and His mercies are over all His works.” (Psalm 145: 8, 9) Jeremiah says they are renewed each morning (Lamentations 3: 23). Yet poor Samson could not seem to muster enough faith in God’s mercy to believe for renewed life; he could only find enough faith to die (even though his hair was growing back, v. 22.) We need not shrink back from asking for more mercy when needed, because a) our need for mercy never expires, and b) the Lord never withholds it when asked.